Nineteen weeks of preparation is finally in the bag…today, I am off to Italy to run the Palermo marathon.  I’m confident I’ve done everything possible to ensure a good run, now it’s up to the running gods to reward or punish me on Sunday.  Hopefully, I’ve made sufficient sacrifices along the way to appease them! [...]

I am now in the last five weeks of training before taking off to Italy for the Palermo marathon.  Suffice it to say, I am extremely tired and hungry.  I should add that in addition to being in the throes of the most difficult part of my training plan, I’m also in the most difficult ‘season’ [...]

I am now entering my seventh week of marathon training.  Part of my weekly regimen is to spend every Wednesday night engaged in some form of interval/speedwork.  Up until last Wednesday, I was working on a series of progressively longer distance intervals, starting at 1000 m reps in week 1, and working my way to [...]

My first foray into major distance racing was running the Dublin marathon which was, as many races are in the EU, sponsored by Adidas.  While I have several distinct and fond memories of ‘my first time’, one remembrance in particular has resonated with me while preparing for and running every subsequent marathon. That year, Adidas’ advertising campaign for the event focused on the “Seven Stages of the [...]

By nature, I am not a patient person.  I’m the type who doesn’t suffer fools gladly, including my own foolishness.  Throughout my running career, learning to be patient has been a difficult lesson that has cost me dearly in countless races.  Fortunately, age (yikes) and the wisdom gained through 8 years of marathon training have taught [...]

It is no secret that I am a certified shoe freak…footwear is in my blood, and a recurring theme/fixation throughout my life that I come by honestly: Shoe obsession is in my genes.  My grandmother owned a pair for every outfit, each kept carefully stored in plastic boxes, organized by the ensemble they complimented.  Recently, I discovered my nephew [...]

July 17th…the last leisurely Sunday run I’ll take before starting serious training for the Palermo Marathon.  I’m relishing my final week of relative slackerdom  (3-4 runs/20 -25 mi per week) before training 5 days a week, as well as preparing for some serious, disciplined runs. I’ve run 10 marathons thus far, and have learned many [...]